San Jose Museum Of Quilts & Textiles

This is a very special museum which has both community based exhibitions and world class textile and quilt exhibitions. One of the most popular recent exhibits was textile art expressing reactions to gun violence. It was educational and moving. I wish everyone has a chance to see artistic expression visioned through various textile arts. It is a community treasure.

As a fiber artist, I appreciate having such a great resource in the area. SJMQT is a beautiful museum with great programs to engage the public. The artist in residence program is very well received by both visitors and local artists. I enjoy the timely exhibits that cover both current events and historic textiles and often tie them together. I would highly recommend SJMQT for both the textile curious and the serious artist.

As a textile artist myself, I treasure this Museum as a serious place to see and show art quilts. When people in the general population hear the word "quilt" they are reminded only of their grandmother's quilts. As part of my interest in exposing more people to the art quilt, I have taken small groups of people through the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, and they consistently are surprised by the quality of artwork seen within. I'm pleased we have this facility to show art quilts to one another and to the public at large. Recently, San Jose was the chosen city for the Studio Art Quilt Associates conference. People from around the world viewed exhibits at the SJMQ&T, and we heard nothing but good comments. I'm lucky to live so close to such a beautiful museum.

Current wage theft claims and retaliation claims have been deemed credible by the CA Labor Board.

Under former executive director Jane Przybysz, this museum was passionate and eclectic. The new E.D., Christine Jeffers, seems more about money than art, and it SJMQT has lost a bit of its soul. The passionate volunteers keep the place running, but it seems like there's never anyone in there. This would be a good destination museum in a suburban location, but a big downtown facility for quilt enthusiasts seems a waste of a key location, where a big draw, truly urban arts group could make a home. Just doesn't seem urban enough for where San Jose is going. Occasionally, an interesting and edgy exhibit works its way into the stitchery.

Years ago I attended an exhibit here and was blown away by the quality of artwork. The museum is small, but the exhibit I saw was truly breath-taking. The people who run this museum are very passionate about what they do, progressive minded and committed to community involvment.